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P. 'GALASSI Dec. 15, 1931. U Re. 18,282 COMPOSITE FLOOR STRIP OriginalFiled Feb. 6, 1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 P'. GALASSI Dec. 15, 1931. I

' ,QOMPOSITE FLOOR STRIP.

2 Sheets-Sheet briginaifiled Feb. 6, 192a I l. Q

lull u fd-ry'uale 612/44 Reissued Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STA IPASOUALEGALASST; 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

courosrrn rLooa srnrr Original No. 1,718,041, dated June 18, 1929,Serial No. 252,323, flled- February 8, 1928. Application for reissuefiled September 17,

- This invention relates to improvements in the construction of terrazzoand si ilar floorings, and more particularly refe to a new type ofdividing strip adapted for use in connection with such fioors' Terrazzo,granolithic, stucco and similar floors usually comprise a lower orfoundation bed made of concrete or cement or mortar or other suitablematerial, and an upper or [finishing layer generally consisting of amixture of marble chips and cement, by means of which a good durablesurface may be obtained as well as pleasing'designs and color effects ofa practically unlimited variety.

' The upper layer which is generally placed in position after thefoundation layer has been allowed to harden to a sufficient degree ofconsistency, is generally divided into anumber of panels 'or units in apredetermined arrangement, which are obtained by outlining the desireddesign by means of dividing strips placed on or through the foundationlayer.

These strips generally consist of flat metal bars set on edge havingtheir upper edge flush with the surface of the floor; and said bars aregenerally provided with anchoring andpositioning means insuring a firmbinding action between the strips and the materials. of which the flooris composed. These bars are generally made of relatively soft metal suchas brass for instance, the wearing qualities of which are approximatelyequal to those of the floor itself; and according to the nature of thefloor and of the design to be produced, the dividing strips may be ofvarious thicknesses and lengths.

Relatively thin strips may readily be. ob-

tained out of sheet metal, and are suitable forfloors of moderate size;however, relatively v large floors, or floors composed of relativelylarge units, call .for strips having sufiici'ent rigidity to withstandthe lateral pressure of the material without bulging when the floor islaid. These heavier strips are also generally made outofsheet metal butbrass being expensive material, their use materially increases the cost'of the floor. At times the ornamental features are such as to requireextra thick metallic strips showing through 1931. Serial No. 563,421.

the material, and in these cases, the cost is the cost of material andthat of'labor are again materially increased.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a dividing strip forterrazzo floors and the like, of a novel and improved type, comprisingtwo interlocking sections permitting the use of two separate metals inthe pro duction of the strip. I

' Another object is to provide a novel and improved dividing strip forfloors of the character specified, suitable for the produc tion of arelatively heavy lined design, yet permitting the use of a relativelylight gauge rib portion, readily lending itself to punch and dieoperations for the production of anchoring and positioningineans,adapted to retain the device in position. Y a A further object of theinvention is to provide a defining strip of the character specified,composed, oftwo different sections securely interlocking with oneanother, permitting the use of a relatively high grade metal for the topof the strip and a less expensive metal'for the rib portion thereof,without materially affecting the structural resistance of the stripitself.

A further object is the provision of a didescription proceeds and willbe set forth and claimed in the appended claims.

Various embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 isa plan view of a floor illustrating the manner in which thestrips are used;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of a stripembodying my invention;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation through line 3-3 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section elevation through line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view in elevation of the lower portion ofthe same strip;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional elevation through line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional elevation through line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a ragmentary side view in elevation of the assembled. strip;

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional elevation through line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional through line 10-10 of Fig. 8; I

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the same strip; I

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross section showing the strip illustrated inFigs. 2 to 11, in osition, at the same time illustrating the Kinction ofpositioning and anchoring means offset therefrom;

Fig. 13 is a fra entary side elevation of a somewhat simp er type, ofstrip also embodying my invention;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional elevation through elevation line 14-14 ofFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side. elevation of a strip upper portion,similar to that used in the strip of Fig. 13;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional elevation through 1ine16*1'6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a cross sectional elevation through line 17-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary side elevation of a lower strip portion similarto that illustrated in Fig. 15;

Fig. 19 is a cross sectional elevation through line 19-19 ofFig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a cross sectional elevation through line 20-20 of Fig. 18

'through line 29-29 of Fig. 27

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary side elevation of a strip similar to that shownin Fig. 21, illustrating the possibility of using an upper portionhaving a wider section than the rib poition of the strip;

1g. through line 31-31 of Fig. 30.

Fig. 32 is a cross sectional elevation through line 32-32 of Fig. 30-;

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary side elevation of a strip composed of an upperportion similar to that used in the strip of Fig. 30 and a lower portionsimilar to that used in the strip of Fig. 24;

Fig. 34 is a cross sectional elevation through line 34-34 of Fig. 33;and

Fig. 35 is a cross sectional elevation through line 35-35 of Fig. 33.

Referring to Fig. l it will be observed that the terrazzo floor-40represented thereby is com osed of a number of panels 41, delimited byividing strips 42, set in a predetermined arrangement, difining thegeneral design of the floor.

The main characteristic of the strip form ing the object of thisinvention is that the same is composed of two parts securelyinterlocking with each other; the upper part being made of a suitablemetal such as brass, for instance, selected for its decorative and weariqualities, and the lower part being 31 is a cross sectional elevation.

made 0 another metal such as mild steel, for

instance, selected for economy and strength.

A typical embodiment of my invention is shown in Figs. 2 to 11,illustrating the strip composed of an upper or head-portion 43 and alower or rib portion 44.

The upper or head portion which is in the form of a relatively narrowstrip, is cut at spaced intervals along its lower edge, to form dovetailed notches 45, extending upwardly from the lower edge. In formingsaid notches the material is only out along the downwardly convergingsides 46, 47, of each notch, and the portion thus isolated from the bodyof the strip is bent rearwardl to form laterally projecting'lugs 48, ass own.

By virtue of this construction, the lower edge of the head portion orstripv remains formed in an alternatesuccession of dove-f tailed notchesand dove tailed tenons or male elements of a dove tailed joint.

The lower or rib portion of the strip is also in the form of anelementary strip preferably somewhat wider than the upper portion, andits upper edge is notched to interlock with the lower edge of the upperportion. Said upper edge is accordingly cut at spaced intervals tocorrespond with the spacing between tenons 49 of the upper strip so asto form dovetailed notches 50 adapted to tightly'fit. and receive tenons49.

Like in the previous case, in producing said notches, the material isonly out along the upwardly converging sides 51, 52, of each notch, andthe portion of material thus isolated from the body of the strip is bentfrontwardly to form laterally projecting lugs 53.

By virtue of this construction, the resulting tenons 54 are adapted tofit and to tightly interlock with notches 45 of the upper portion, sothat the two elementary strips may be securely interlocked with oneanother, forming a composite strip such as shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11.a

The interlocking joint thus provided between the two elementary stripsforming the composite strip canbe made positively secure, by making thewidth of the notches a trifle smaller than the width of thecorresponding tenons. This difference in width should only be at most,two of three thousandths of aninch, and will thus insure an extremelytight fit between the interlocking parts, such that the two parts cannotagain become easily separated, once they have been forced together bythe application of pressure.

Theresulting structure, is man intents and purposes as rigid as if itwere formed out of a solid strip of material; furthermore, the sameresults formed with laterally projecting ears or lugs 48, 53, whichprovide suitable anchoring means for the strip, without weakening itssections. The lower anchoring means 53 are preferably used also aspositioning means, determining the depth at which the lower part of thestrip may be inserted through the foundation bed of the flooring; andto'this end, the parts are so proportioned that the distance between theunder surface of ears or lugs 53 and the upper edge 55 of the completedstrip will be equivalent to the depth of the finishing layer of thefloor. i

This feature is'illustrated in Fig. 12, where 56 designates the lowerlayer or bed of the floor, laid on the floor foundation 57 and 58designates the upper or finishing layer of the floor. This figureillustrates a strip of thetype just described, having its lower or ribportion 59, embedded within the lower layer of the floor, up to a pointwhere the lower surface of its lugs or ears 23 rests against the uppersurface of said lower layer. When the strip is so laid, the portion ofthe provide additional anchoring means between the strip and thematerial out of which the finishing layer is formed, further insuringthe stability of the strip and the bond between the strip and theplastic material of the floor. o

By virtue of the construction just described therefore, it is obviousthat I obtain several important advantages over strips heretofore in usefor similar purposes. In fact, I produce a strip which possesses all therigidity of a solid strip from which no anchoring means have beenpunched and bent and at the same time, I also provide the anchoring andpositioning means which are a necessary feature of this type ofmaterial.

Furthermore, produce a strip which is cheaper than a strip of equivalentthickness, and width, made entirely of brass, by making the lower partof the strip out of relatively inexpensive material, and by doing this,I gain the further'advantage of actually increasing the strength-andrigidity of the structure, due to the fact that the steel used for thelower portion is stronger and more rigid than brass.

It is also possible if desired to make a composite strip with perfectlystraight sides by blanking out the notches outright both in the upperand the lower portions bf the strip. This construction is illustrated inFigs. 13, 14, where 60 designates the upper portion of the strip, 61 ofthe lower portion, 62 the dove tailed notches provided by a blankingoperation through the lower edge of the upper portion 60, 63'the tenonsor male portions resulting thereby, intervening between adjoiningnotches; 64 designates the dove tailed notches blanked off the upper edgof the lower portion of the strip, adapted to register with and toreceive tenons 63, and 65 designates the tenons produced betweenadjoining notches 64, said tenons being adapted.

to register and to interlock with notches 62,

as shown.

Also in this case, it is preferable that a tight fit be provided betweenthe interlocking portions'and therefore it will be advisable in practiceto make the width of the tenons a trifle larger than the width of thecorrespon ding notches interlocking therewith.

This type of strip is preferable to the one previously described, insuch cases where curves of relatively small radius have to be produced,because the. strip if made of relatively light gauge metal is easilybent in small circles and other curved shapes, while the strippreviously described, does not bend lugs 48, 53.

as easily on account of the longitudinal rigidity imparted to it by thestaggered, ears or In Figs. to 23, I illustrate another strip which is acombination ofrthe head portion used in the strip of Figs. 13, 14 andthe rib portion of the strip illustrated inFigs. 2 to 11.

In said figures, 66 designates the upper orstrip 66 and is notched andspaced at intervalsto form notches adapted to register with and toreceive tenons 68, as previously explained. Notches 70 are formed byslittin the metal along the sides oft-he notches an by bending theportion of metal thus iso-.

lated, outwardly, so as to form laterally extending ears or lugs 71.

The function of these ears or lugs has been explained before, and theresulting composite strip, illustrated in Figs. 21 to 23 will have anupper or head portlon free of'lateral extensions, and a lower or ribportionformed with anchoringand positioning means 71 as shown.

The absence of the upper row of laterally extending lugs such as shownin Figs. 2m 11, permits a certain amount of flexibility in this type ofstrip which can thus be bent around curves, but not around curves of assmall a radius as in the case of the strip i'llustrated in Figs. 13, 14.

In Figs. 24 to 26, Iillustrate a modification of the strip'illustratedin Figs. 2 to 11, in which both the upper and the lower portion of thestrip are provided with ears or lugs alternately extending in bothdirections.

In said figures, 72 designates the upper portion of the strip formedwith dove tailed notches 73 along its lower edge, and tenons 7 4 and 75designates the lower portion of the strip formed with notches .76registering with and receiving tenons 74, and provided with tenons 77registering with and adapted to be.

inserted through notches 73.

All the notches are in this case, formed by slitting the metal alongtheir sides, and by bending laterally the' isolated portions thusobtained, but as shown in the drawings,'the ears or lugs 78, 79 of theupper portion of the strip are alternately bent to one side and then tothe other and in a similar manner ears or lugs 80, 81, of the lowerportion of the strip are also bent to one side and then to the other inalternative succession.

This type of strip is substantially equivalent to that illustrated inFigs. 2 to 11,'ex-

cept that the. action of its positioning means is somewhat moreeffective in maintaining the strip vertical, when the floor is beinglaid,

because the total width of the supporting surface'thus' obtained istwice as large as in the case of the strip of Figs.'2 to 11.

In Figs. 27 to 29, I illustrate a modification of the strip shown inFigs. 21 to 23.

1 This strip is alsocomposed of an upper portion 82, provided withblanked out notches 83, and the lower portion 84 provided with tenons ormale members 85, adapted to interlock with said notches, said tenonsbeing obtained by slitting the metal about their sides and bendinoutwardly the metal portion thusisolate to form laterally extending earsor lugs 56. j

-'However, the interlocking joint in this case, instead of beingcomposed of dove tailed members is composed of. male and female elementsadapted to interlock with one an-' other, but having' some other shapeadapted to exert an equivalent action. For instance, the male members 85of the lower portion 84 have a rounded shape, and notches 83 are shaped,accordingly. This example merely serves to illustrate the fact that forthe pun poses of my invention, it is immaterial what shape is used forthe interlocking membersof the upper and lower portions of'the strip, aslong as t-heyare capable of producing an eifective interlocking action.

This will be obtained as stated, by providing a tight fit for theinterlocking members lines have to be produced. In such cases, it

iscustomary to employ heavy gauge brass bars or strips, the cost ofwhich'goesto appreciably increase the total cost of the floor.

By virtue of my construction, 'I can use a relatively heavy gauge stripfor the upper portion, blanking out the necessary notches alongits loweredge, and a relatively light gauge strip for the lower portion, thelight gauge material of which said lower portion is composed permittingof easily oflsetting the required anchoring and positioning means.

. Furthermore, the rib portion may be made of relatively inexpensivemetal, such as cold rolled or hot rolled steel for instance, furheavygauge-narrow strip provided wit spaced dove tailed notches 88 along itslower edge, said notches being obtained by blanking out the material atsuch point.

The lower or rib portion of the strip is similar to that illustrated inFigs. 18 to 23,

In Figs. 33 to 35, I show another possible -modification of thearrangement just described, where the upper portion 93 is similar inevery respect to the one just described,

and the lower portion 94 is also similar to the one described inconnection with Figs 30 to 32, except that its anchoring and positioningears or lugs 95, 96, are alternately bent in one and then in the otherdirection, pro viding a better supporting surface for the strip as awhole, and also providing a better supporting surface for the upperportion of the strip.

In connection with the constructions of Figs. 30 to 32. and Figs. 33 to35, it will be observed that the interlocking action between the twomembers may be made more positive if the lugs or ears are turnedlaterally but not quite to reach a horizontal position until the twomembers are connected together.

In this manner, the lugs or cars will press against the under surface ofthe upper portion of the strip, and their spring action will intensifythe binding action of the interlocking joint. In the case of the stripspreviously described, where the two strip elements are of the samethickness, the action of the interlocking joint may also be supplementedif desired, by positive means, for instance, by spot welding or othermethods of joining metal parts to one another.

For the purposes of my invention, it is not absolutely necessary thatthe anchoring means be formed by bending the material along thelongitudinal side of some or all of the notches, since it is quitefeasible to bend the material at some other point of the periphery ofthe notches or to provide anchoring means obtained by slitting andbending the material at points independent of the notches, as will beunderstood.

Therefore, since it is obvious that my inventive ideamay be applied inways different from those shown, the drawings should be understood asbeing intended for illustrative purposes only and not in a limitingsense.

I accordingly reserve myself the 'right to carry my invention intopractice, in all those ways and manners which may enter, fairly, intothe scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinallyinterextending male and female joint members.

2. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with interlocking notches andtenons, one of said sections-being formed with anchoring means outwardlyprojecting from the base of said notches.

3. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal 'metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formedwith interlocking notches andtenons, A

one of said sections being formed with anchoring means outwardlyprojecting from the base of said notches, said anchoring means alsoacting as positioning means determining the depth at which the strip isto be placed in position.

4. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with male and female jointscomprising interlocking notches and tenons, the lower section beingformed with anchoring means outwardly projecting from the base of saidnotches, said anchoring means also acting as positioning meansdetermining the depth at which the strip is to be placed in position.

5. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, each section having portions extending within theother, the thickness of one section being different from that of theother, said sections being made of two difierent metals.

6. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with male and female jointscomprising interlocking notches and tenons, the thickness of theuppersection being greater than the thickness of the lower section.

7. A floor strip of the character described,

comprising an upper and a lower longitudinal metal section interlockingwith each other along their inner edges, said edges being formed withmale and female joints comprising interlocking notches and tenons, thethickness of the upper section being greater lower section being formedwith anchoring.

and positioning means outwardly projecting from the base of saidnotches.

9. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinallyinterextending male and female joints comprising interlocking notchesand tenons, said tenons fitting withinsaid notches with a tight fitrequiring the application of pressure in order to join the two sectionstogether.

10. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinallyinterextending male and female joints comprising interlocking notchesand tenons. said tenons fitting within said notches with a tightfit'requiring the application of pressure in order to join the twosections together. one of said sections being formed with anchoringmeans outwardly projecting from the base of said notches.

11. A floor strip of the character described. comprising an upper and alower longitudinal metal section interlocking with each other alongtheir inner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinallyinterextending male and female joints, comprising interlocking notchesand tenons, one of'said sections being formed with anchoring meansoutwardly projecting from the base of said notches, some of saidanchoring means projecting at one sideand some at the opposite side ofsaid strip. r

12. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper and alower. longitudinal section interlocking with each other along theirinner edges. said edges being formed with longitudinally interextendingmale and female members, and anchoring means there for, outwardlyprojecting from said strip.

, 13. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upper anda lower longitudinal-section interlocking with each other along theirinner edges, said edges being formed with longitudinally interextendingmale and female joint members, and anchoring means therefor, outwardlyprojecting from said strip, said anchoring means also acting aspositioning means determining the depth at which the strip is to beplaced in position.

14. A floor strip of the character described, comprisin an upper and alower longitudinal section interlocking with each other along theirinner edges, said sections being made of two different metals.

15. A fioor strip of the character described,

' gle thickness of metal, said sections being permanently connected toeach other along their inner edges, said sections being made of twodifferent metals.

18. A floor strip of the character described, comprising an upperbrass,and a lower steel longitudinal section, each section consisting of asingle thickness of metal, said sections being permanently connected toeach other along their inner edges to form a single structure.

19. A floor stripof the character described, comprising an upper brass,and a lower steel longitudinal section, each section consisting of asingle thickness of metal, said sections beand anchoring means outwardlyprojecting from said lower sectlon.

PASQUALE GALASSI.

. ing permanently connected to each other along .their inner edges toform a single structure,

